Tricolored Blackbirds nest on the Kern River Preserve. Here a female brings a mouthful of caterpillars to her chicks. photo by Alison Sheehey © 2008

The Kern River Preserve is managed by Audubon-California for the preservation of one of California’s finest remaining riparian forests and the wildlife it supports.


Upcoming events


EVENTS - FESTIVALS  WORKDAYS

Saturday, May 17, 2008 – 8 a.m. –  Spring Cleaning. RSVP. Email

Friday, June 6, 2008 - 1 p.m. - Friends of the Kern River Preserve Monthly Meeting. Email

Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. California Amphibian & Reptile Celebration. Kern River Preserve HQ, Weldon.

Saturday, June 21, 2008 – 8 a.m. – clean HQ, groom nature trail. RSVP. Email 

Thursday-Sunday, June 26-29, 2008 North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Biennial Meeting. Kernville School, Kernville 

Saturday, July 12, 2008 – Bird Count - South Fork Rapid Assessment Bird Survey. Email

Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Kern Valley Hummingbird Celebration. Kern River Preserve HQ, Weldon. Website:


Schedule of California Christmas Bird Counts

Schedule of California Nature Festivals


KRP Friends Spring 2008 Newsletter


Friends of the Kern River Preserve Newsletters are available online in PDF format only. Download Acrobat Reader

Friends of the Kern River Preserve E-newsletter


Parker Ranch conservation easement

Audubon has worked with its partners over the past several years to help purchase a conservation easement on an integral link in the coast to the Sierra wildlife corridor. A win-win situation for nature and the Parker Family. The development rights were purchased to provide the family with much needed capital, now the ranching operations can continue in perpetuity. Ranching managed properly benefits plants and wildlife by providing open space and habitat. MORE...


Tricolored Blackbirds (Agelaius tricolor) Breed Successfully

Land protected in the South Fork Valley by Audubon and the California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG) is home to several new flocks of nesting Tricolored Blackbirds. These colonial nesters have declined dramatically in the last few years and although they have no special protection they are listed by CDFG as a Species of Special Concern. MORE...


Cyrus Canyon protects extremely rare Kelso Creek Monkeyflower

In 2006, after years of being good land stewards, the Sprague Family offered Audubon another significant piece of their land holdings in Cyrus Canyon. Audubon purchased then transferred the land to the Bureau of Land Management to protect this unique 1660-acre parcel of juniper woodland and upper Sonoran grassland in perpetuity. MORE...


San Emigdio Blue butterfly

San Emigdio Blue (Plebejus emigdionis) is an extremely rare butterfly found only in montane desert regions of southern California from Inyo County southwest through the Mojave Desert and Southern Sierra Nevada to Los Angeles County. The host plant for its caterpillar is four-winged saltbush (Atriplex canescens). MORE...


Rare Species found on Kelso Creek Sanctuary

This past April, a team of professional and amateur lepidopterists conducted a new butterfly census in the Kelso Valley. During the count the rare San Emigdio Blue was discovered on our Kelso Creek Sanctuary. This makes two wildlife preserves that Audubon owns and manages that prove to be important islands of habitat for this little butterfly. The much sought after Yucca Giant Skipper was discovered on the property as well.

Alison Sheehey has been censusing the plants and animals on this property for the past few years and these butterflies are an exciting new addition to document. Audubon is working to protect up to 600 acres upstream and adjacent to the Kelso Creek Sanctuary and hope to convey any new lands to BLM for inclusion in the Brightstar Wilderness Area.


Spring Nature Festival recap

John Muir Laws teaches enthusiastic festival goers how to paint wildflowers. Photo courtesy Christine Hancock © 2008

Here John Muir Laws teaches budding nature illustrator's how to paint wildflowers in the field. Photo courtesy Christine Hancock © 2008

One more festival for the books, over 500 people enjoyed field trips, music, keynote speeches, workshops and just being out among the beauty of the Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada.

We thank all of our volunteers, trip leaders, and participants for making this one of the best festivals ever.

MORE ...

Current Weather Conditions at the Preserve provided by NOAA

Visit the Kern River Preserve in Weldon, California. Open every day of the year from dawn to dusk.


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Migrate down to the preserve and help us winterize. Please donate to KRP today.


Information on Planned Giving - Bequests, Annuities, and other Long Term Gifts


Be an active conservation advocate with Audubon


Live in the Kern River Valley? Would you like to help feed the birds, help plant and maintain the hummingbird garden, or help with the trail projects? Then please Contact Us to help.

Join the Friends of the Kern River Preserve.

Application to join Friends of the Kern River Preserve

See our membership brochure for more information

Maps & Directions to the Preserve


Stay informed on late breaking conservation news and wildlife sightings

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See how you can help spread the word that conservation is good for the economy See Vision for the Kern River Valley.


Kids & Teachers! Preview the latest issues of the Award Winning Audubon Adventures


The Friends of the Kern River Preserve prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status.


Frontispiece: A Rufous Hummingbird visits the feeders at the preserve during spring migration in April 2008. © All photos courtesy Alison Sheehey, Audubon All rights reserved.

KRP logo: Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Summer Tanager, and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher by Keith Hansen ©

For over 100 years Audubon has been protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences.

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Kern River Preserve • P.O. Box 1662 • 18747 Hwy. 178 • Weldon, CA 93283 • E-mail
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This site was created on October 21, 1998. Please Email to make comments or offer suggestions.